This year’s Wimbledon has marked a significant turning point for women tennis players.
Wimbledon organisers had last year revealed that they would finally relax the rigid dress code for females in 2023.
This followed persistent campaigning and protests asking the tournament to modernise its rules. As reported by Huffington Post, the dress code dated back to 1877, with players forced to wear all-white clothes to minimise sweat stains. These also offered a cooler experience for players as white reflects light, meaning they would not get as hot.
So, if you’re wondering why women’s tennis players are wearing dark undershorts at Wimbledon this year, here is everything you need to know.
Why are some female players wearing black shorts at Wimbledon 2023?
Wimbledon’s old rules made it mandatory for all players (men and women) to wear all white, including their shorts.
Some women’s players have long spoken out against the strict restriction. They said that as women of a certain age menstruate — and given the amount of jumping and running female players do — there is a high risk of them bleeding through to their white shorts.
Some campaigners said that potentially running around in stained underwear in front of millions of viewers worldwide understandably made them anxious. They said this in turn could affect their performance.
Some players said they have taken birth control pills during Wimbledon in the past to make sure they didn’t have their period.
British tennis player Heather Watson said that her period was the reason for her defeat at the 2015 Australian Open. She said she was constantly worried she’d be photographed leaking through her undershorts.
Such instances led to Wimbledon’s dress code change, involving female players being allowed to wear dark undershorts.
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is among the players sporting this look at Wimbledon 2023.
Azarenka said of the rule change: “‘I think that was an important step. I think that’s very thoughtful.”
